Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

WASHINGTON, DC--In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled
Monday that foreign cruise ships operating in American waters must be made
accessible in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ruling is one of just a few which have made it to the high court
that have been decided in favor of people with disabilities since Congress
passed the anti-discrimination law in 1990.

In the decision on "Douglas Spector v. Norwegian Cruise Line", Justice
Anthony Kennedy wrote that the ADA applies to foreign ships in U.S. waters the
same as it does to American ships in the same waters.

Kennedy added, however, that the cruise ships should only have to remove
access barriers when such removal is "readily achievable", that is, "without
much difficulty and expense", and when it does not "conflict with principles of
international law."

The case was filed by a group of passengers with disabilities and their
companions who traveled on the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Sea cruise ships in
1998 an 1999. The ships originated in the Port of Houston, Texas, but sailed
under the Bahamian flag.

The passengers filed the discrimination suit under Title III of the ADA,
which covers accessibility in public accommodations. According to court
documents, they claimed that physical barriers on the ships denied them access
to emergency evacuation equipment and emergency evacuation-related programs;
facilities such as public restrooms, restaurants, swimming pools, and
elevators; and cabins with a balcony or a window. They also alleged that the
cruise line charged them extra for using accessible cabins and for the
assistance of crew members.

In January of last year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New
Orleans ruled in part for the cruise line. Both sides then asked for the
Supreme Court to hear the case.

Monday's ruling could mean the $2.5 billion foreign cruise travel
industry could be forced to spend millions of dollars to make cruise ships more
accessible.

Several disability advocacy groups had filed an amicus ("friend of the
court") brief supporting Spector and the other plaintiffs in the case.

The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402. The federal law also provides funding to the Minnesota Disability Law Center,the state Protection and Advocacy System, and to the Institute on Community Integration, the state University Center for Excellence. The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.